British Muslims for Secular Democracy
Encyclopedia
British Muslims for Secular Democracy is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting secularism
in the United Kingdom
, founded by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
. The group believes the diversity of views among British Muslims is not adequately represented to wider British society and that their image is distorted.
The organisation says it aims to:
Staff
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, founded by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown MBE is a Ugandan-born British journalist and author, who describes herself as a "leftie liberal, anti-racist, feminist, Muslim, part-Pakistani...a very responsible person"...
. The group believes the diversity of views among British Muslims is not adequately represented to wider British society and that their image is distorted.
The organisation says it aims to:
- Challenge those who have a vested interest in promoting the 'clash of civilizationsClash of CivilizationsThe Clash of Civilizations is a theory, proposed by political scientist Samuel P. Huntington, that people's cultural and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict in the post-Cold War world....
' narrative. They claim that these include some Muslim leaders and prominent white commentators.
- Highlight the rights of Muslims who are marginalised because of their inability to cope with or succeed within the system.
- Encourage British Muslim men and women to recognise the contributions they have made to Britain.
- Examine the role of political parties that pander to "community leaderCommunity leaderA Community Leader is a designation, often by secondary sources , for a person who is perceived to represent a community. A simple way to understand community leadership is to see it as leadership in, for and by the community...
s"
- Enable Muslims to become more aware of their autonomous rights and question Muslim leaders who set themselves up as 'representatives' or ‘experts’.
- Work with other global progressive Muslims opposing Saudi influenced Salafism and its offshoots.
- Challenge the ill-informed and politicised nature of the state's intervention in the organisation of religious life in this country and the influence faith based groups now have on public policies.
- Object to government policies that curtail civil libertiesCivil libertiesCivil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
using the prevailing sense of fear of terrorism.
- Work with young Muslims and try to win over their hearts and minds, so they espouse the quiet and compassionate Islam practised by Muslims through generations.
Trustees
- Nasreen Rehman (Chair)
- Dr Shaaz Mahboob (Vice Chair)
- Yasmin Alibhai-Brown
- Mona Bauwens
- Yousif Naser
- Imran Ahmed
- Dr Ghayasuddin SiddiquiGhayasuddin SiddiquiGhayasuddin Siddiqui is an academic and political activist. He was born in Delhi, India, migrated to Pakistan in late 1947 and moved to the UK in 1964....
- Dr Taj Hargey
- Andy Gregg
Staff
- Tehmina Kazi, Director (since May 2009)
- Dr Wannette Tuinstra, Human Rights Outreach Officer (since October 2010)